Spoon 1/2 cup frosting into resealable plastic bag. Spread cupcakes with remaining frosting and smooth. For heads, place vanilla wafer on each cupcake, flat side down, overhanging edge slightly. For ears, add 2 more wafers against back of head, standing up with flat side facing out.

Snip small corner from bag of frosting. Pipe some frosting over cookie head to cover. Pipe line of frosting around cookie ears.

Sprinkle coconut over cupcakes, making sure to cover tops completely. Remove any excess coconut from frosted areas and use small brush to expose unfrosted centers of ears. Gently press coconut to reshape.

Pipe dot of frosting on front tip of each head and add jelly bean nose. Add pearl eyes, pressing into frosting to secure. For tails, cut licorice laces into twelve 3-inch pieces. Insert tails into frosting on edges of cupcakes, opposite heads.

Cheese-Slice Cupcakes

For each cupcake, place 1 circus peanut on its side and cut lengthwise into thirds.

Trim rolled candy into 2-inch squares. For holes, use pastry tips, straws, or cookie cutter to remove small holes of various sizes from each square. Tint vanilla frosting pale yellow with food coloring; spread on 12 chilled vanilla cupcakes and top with slices as desired.

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